Lots of People Get Around in Different Ways

pedestrians (on foot, or using personal mobility devices
such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters);

cyclists, skateboarders, and rollerbladers...

...of all ages (children, teens, adults, and seniors) and abilities.
Not everyone can see well; not everyone can hear well; not everyone
is fleet-footed.

But mobility is important to everyone. We all need to get around.

Some People are Much More Vulnerable than Others

Pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and rollerbladers are
much more vulnerable to traumatic injury and death from road crashes
than motor vehicle drivers and passengers are.

Pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and rollerbladers of all ages
and abilities are our most vulnerable road users.

Relative Weights of a Child, an Adult, a Car,
an SUV or light truck, and a Bus

They really are a lot smaller!

And they are
less protected, less visible,
slower, and less manoeuvrable.
They are
much more vulnerable.

Speed Matters to Vulnerable Road Users — a Lot!

At usual motor vehicle speeds throughout our neighbourhoods
(that is, between 40 and 67 km/hr), small changes in vehicle speed
can greatly increase the probability of severe injury or death
to pedestrians.

The following figures are based on information provided by Brian C. Tefft
of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Washington, D.C., as published in the paper
Tefft, Brian C., 2013. Impact speed and a pedestrian's risk of
severe injury or death. Accident Analysis and Prevention 50(2013)871-878.
The author's "miles per hour" speed units have been converted to "kilometers per hour"
for this presentation.

Probability of Severe Injury or Death to
Pedestrians at Different Impact Speeds (km/h)

At an impact speed of just 40 km/hr,
the probability of severe injury or death to a pedestrian is about
26 %.

About 1 pedestrian in 4 will be severely injured,
or die, from an impact at that speed.

Probability of Severe Injury or Death to
Pedestrians at Different Impact Speeds (km/h)

An increase in the speed of impact
from 40 to 53 km/hr...

Probability of Severe Injury or Death to
Pedestrians at Different Impact Speeds (km/h)

...doubles
the probability of severe injury or death to pedestrians,
from 26 to 52 %.

About 2 pedestrians in 4 will be severely injured,
or die, from an impact at that speed.

Probability of Severe Injury or Death to
Pedestrians at Different Impact Speeds (km/h)

An increase in the speed of impact
from 40 to 67 km/hr...

Probability of Severe Injury or Death to
Pedestrians at Different Impact Speeds (km/h)

...triples
the probability of severe injury or death to pedestrians,
from 26 to 77 %.

About 3 pedestrians in 4 will be severely injured,
or die, from an impact at that speed.